We talked to Ana Paul, Director of Technological Innovation at the Galician Automotive Technology Centre (Ctag) about the future prospects of this strategic sector and its main lines of work.

What are the keys to Galicia becoming a benchmark in innovation and technology in the automotive sector?

Galicia has positioned itself as a reference point in the automotive and transport sector mainly thanks to the presence and expertise of the various players in the sector. There is Stellantis, a leading international automotive group with the capacity to attract innovative projects. We also have a group of component suppliers and auxiliary industry companies collaborating through the Ceaga Automotive Cluster. And of course, in Galicia we have a technology centre specialised in automotives and transport such as Ctag, one of the largest centres in Europe with this degree of specialisation and with a relevant positioning in new technologies for autonomous, connected and electric vehicles.

We have achieved a remarkable and innovative ecosystem in Galicia, where we must not forget the numerous SMEs and startups that provide solutions for new products, processes and services related to transport, as well as the Xunta's support mechanisms through the Galician Innovation Agency (Gain) or the Igape with relevant programmes to stimulate innovative projects.

What lines of research and technologies are being developed at Ctag?

At Ctag we focus our lines of research on the challenges that new forms of mobility will bring, seeking to anticipate the needs of companies in the medium and long term. One example is the technology and features related to the autonomous and connected vehicle, from the combination of different sensors and algorithms to develop new driving assistance functions (ADAS), through research into new interfaces (HMI) depending on the vehicle's levels of automation or the exploration of new cooperative services between vehicles or with the infrastructure based on 5G.

We also focus on research into new materials and advanced systems to contribute to thermal comfort inside the electric vehicle or materials that provide unique aesthetic and functional properties and solutions based on eco-design.

Another of our lines of work is to carry out research into the traction system of new electric and fuel cell vehicles, for which we have unique resources for development and validation at Ctag, for example, oriented towards batteries.

We are also looking for new solutions in automation and robotics for manufacturing environments, operator assistance using exoskeletons or digital twins, to name but a few examples. 

What does the centre provide to the Galician automotive sector?

Ctag was born 20 years ago from the need expressed by Galician automotive companies to strengthen their R&D and innovation capabilities, and this has been our main mission during this time. We support companies by providing technological services and knowledge transfer in product and process R&D projects.

A great example of how we do this transfer is the implementation of 10 joint research units with automotive companies in Galicia, a programme promoted by the Galician Innovation Agency (Gain). We have established long-lasting agreements to work together closely on lines of research, the results of which have helped the companies to consolidate their R&D and engineering activity in Galicia within their respective international groups. In many cases, these research results have not only generated numerous patents, but have also led to advanced products that have enabled the companies to secure new development projects with customers and this has also contributed to cementing manufacturing activity in Galicia.

What are the future possibilities in the field of smart mobility?

We are currently witnessing a momentous change in the concept of mobility, both because of the demands arising from the energy transition and the impact of digitisation on the design and manufacture of new vehicles. Users are demanding alternative transport options, and a good understanding of these needs is crucial for success in the context of so-called "smart mobility".

Thus, vehicles will increasingly communicate with infrastructure and other vehicles to improve travel efficiency and safety, the combination of multiple sensors and high-definition maps will enable vehicles to make more and more decisions and increase their level of automation, technologies will be integrated to monitor parameters related to passengers' health and wellbeing, new solutions will emerge in favour of transport versatility, new concepts such as autonomous shuttles adapted to urban or interurban environments, new personal transport solutions, etc.

What new solutions can Galicia provide?

In relation to new technologies and mobility solutions, Galicia can play an important role in the future. Automotive companies have been preparing for some time and are orienting their product portfolios towards more innovative components for new sustainable vehicles. In technologies for autonomous and connected vehicles or components for electric vehicles, we can be a point of reference. At Ctag, for example, we are developing a centre in Galicia around the challenges of urban mobility within the framework of the European initiative EIT Urban Mobility, where we work together with SMEs, startups, universities and other relevant agents.

Apart from industrial capacity, experience and proven efficiency in the automotive sector, we could say that there is a lot of talent in Galicia.

What are the opportunities for the future?

As in any period of transformation, many opportunities will arise from the new mobility concepts in terms of new parts, services, technologies, processes, etc. To take advantage of these opportunities, it will be very important to focus on cooperative innovation, digitisation at all levels of the supply chain and training, all of which are essential elements for success in the medium and long term.